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Enjoy a day out in Sussex and take a trip on a steam train before wandering through some beautiful botanical gardens on this Bluebell Railway Steam Train and Visit to Wakehurst Place for Two.

The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running along the border between East and West Sussex, taking you through beautiful scenery while you sit in a lovingly preserved steam train carriage. With the second largest collection of steam trains and carriages in the UK, there’s plenty for fans of the steam engine to take a look at. The various stations en-route have been restored to show different periods of the railway's life, so you’ll be taking a trip through time as you travel between 1960s East Grinstead and 1920s Sheffield Park.

On the day you’ll also make your way to Wakehurst Place, the country estate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and home to the world’s largest seed conservation project. Take a stroll through the natural woodland and lakes while admiring the gardens, Elizabethan House and tree collections that make Wakehurst Place internationally renowned.

What's Included?

Take a trip for two up and down a heritage railway line on The Bluebell Railway

See some lovingly restored steam trains, both in use and at one of the largest collections in the UK

Entry for two to Wakehurst Place, the country estate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Experience gift pack including personalised voucher and message card

Cancellation indemnity

What happens on the day?

You can enjoy this experience in any order, but you will need to drive between the two sites, either starting at Wakehurst and moving to the Bluebell Railway or setting off with steam trains before wandering through the Place’s botanic gardens. You can spend as long as you like at either attraction at the discretion of the railway and Wakehurst, but we think you’ll want 3 to 4 hours at Wakehurst Place and up to 2 hours at the Bluebell Railway.

There is a café and restaurant at Wakehurst Place for refreshment during the day (at an additional cost) and dining options you can pre-book on the Bluebell Railway. However, you’re more than welcome to bring your own food to both – gardens are the perfect place to bring a picnic.

Been there, done that...

Participant guidelines

Minimum age: 18

The experience content, equipment used and restrictions may vary

Availability

This package must be pre-booked and is available seven days a week from April to the end of September and weekends only in October, November and January to the end of March. It is not available in December or on 1 January; other date restrictions may apply.

Wakehurst Place – opening hours

Wakehurst - 10.00 to 18.00 (last entry 17.30) March to October, 16.30 (last entry 16.00) November, January and February

Seed Bank -10.00 to 17.00 March to October, 15.30 November, January and February

Mansion - 10.30 to 17.00 March to October, 15.30 November, January and February

We recommend you book at least four weeks in advance to ensure that dates are available. All bookings are subject to availability.

Please allow 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours on the Bluebell Railway with 3 to 4 hours at Wakehurst Place Botanic Garden and 20 minutes to drive between the venues. Please ensure you allow plenty of time for travelling between the different parts of your experience.

What about insurance?

The centres contracted with us hold public liability insurance. We also hold contingency liability cover. You will not be liable for accidental damage to equipment, except where damage has been caused as a result of recklessness or wilful negligence.

A cancellation indemnity, subject to terms, is included with every voucher.

How it works

All you have to do is pay for the experience you wish to purchase and we’ll send a voucher and booking information to you or directly to the recipient, then you just need to check the info and book your experience.

Review by steve.

Review by Chris

Review by Nicola Bowler

5 out of 5 stars

"Bluebell Railway and Wakehurst Place experience"

The Bluebell railway is a faultless experience and I highly recommend it. There was not time to go to Wakehurst place even though we had the first train and last train so I do not think it is worth booking both on the same day. If you do want to do both then start at East Grinstead with your own car as the taxi journey costs £14 each way or the bus takes an hour and a half which is not practical.

Review by Barry

3 out of 5 stars

"Great experience, poor logistics"

Bluebell Steam Railway is a wonderful vintage experience and well worth a visit. It runs smoothly and to time and definitely delivers. Wakehurst Place is also amazing. It would help immensely if it was made obvious that you have to arrange your own tranport from one to the other, so under no circumstances go to this on public transport. This really needs to be made clear - apparently lots of people are caught out by this. Glad we had a car with us - come on Virgin Experience Days!

Barry21 October 2017

Reply from Zara @ Virgin Experience Days

in reply to Barry

Thank you for your review, and for your suggestions! We're sorry that you didn't find our information clear enough regarding the travelling aspect between locations and this is definitely something that we will look into :)

Review by Ian

5 out of 5 stars

"A great day out"

The bluebell railway is woderful and the all day hop on and off ticket allows you to experience it all. The retaurant a at Sheffield Park served us a really good meal and there was so much to see and enjoy. We didn't have time to visit Wakehurst garden sadly as it would have meant missing some of the things we wanted to see and do on the railway.